Mechanism for operating shutters



(No Model I 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

G. ANDREEN.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SHUTTBRS. No. 391,573. Patented Oct. 23, 1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

e. ANDREEN.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SHUTTERS. No. 391573.

Patented Oct. 23, 1888.

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UNITE MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SHUTTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,573, dated October 23, 1888.

Application filed March 30, 1888. Serial No. 268,943. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE ANDREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas, State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shutter-Operating Mechanism, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My present invention, while applicable as a means for operating various kinds of shutters, is especially well adapted for the operation of fire-proof or other heavy shutters arranged to slide in front of windows, which they are designed to protect.

The object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism whereby the shutters can be operated from the inside of the building and without the necessity of lifting the windows for this purpose; and my invention consists in various novel features of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing an iron shutter with my operating mechanism applied thereto, this view being taken from the inside of the building. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through the center of the window sash and the bars which sustain the shutter. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation showing the manner of sustaining the shutters, this view being taken from the outside of the building. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a view in central vertical section through Fig. 4.

For convenience of illustration I have shown and particularly described one form of fireproof shutter to which my improved mechanism may be applied; but I do not wish to be understood as here claiming the details of construction of such shutter; nor do I wish my present invention, which consists in the improved mechanism for operating shutters, to be understood as restricted in its application to this particular type of shutter.

A designates the wall of the building, within the window-space of which will be set the frame A, of any usual or suitable construction. Upon the outer face of the wall are secured the rails or bars 13 and B, which are held in position near the face of the wall by means of the angle-bars O and the anchor-bars C, any desired number of these angle and anchor bars being employed. The angle-bars O and the anchor-bars C may be built in the body of the wall or may be subsequently attached thereto in any convenient manner. The shutter D in the construction shown consists of a plain plate, (Z, and a corrugated plate, d, these plates being bolted together at their top and bottom edges, and to the edge of the top of the. shutter is bolted the bar I), to which are suitablyattached the sustaining blocks or hangers E,carrying grooved friction-rolls e,that travel upon the upper bar,B,and serve to sustain the shutter. the shutter is extended,preferably,a slight distance below the lower edge of the corrugated plate (1, and to the outer face of this corrugated plate is riveted a supplemental plate, d which serves to form with the plain plate, a groove within which is the lower bar, B, that serves to accurately guide and securely retain in proper position the lower portion of the shutter. The cross-bars D and D", attached, as shown, to the top and bottom of the shutter, serve also the further purpose of giving increased strength to the shutter and guard against all danger of its becoming warped in case it is subjected to intense heat.

From the foregoing construction it will be seen that the shutters when hung in the manner shown are free to slide either in front of or to the sides of the window, according as they are to be opened or closed.

The improved mechanism whereby the opening and closing of the shutters are effected will next be described.

Upon the inner side of each shutter, near its front edge, is fastened a bar, F, that is provided with a groove, j, that serves to receive the end of a bolt attached to the outer end of the radius-bar G, the length of which is approximately equal to the width of the shutter, and the rear portion of this bar G is bent at right angles to the body, as shown in Fig.

The lower portion of the flat plate d of 73 2, to form the operating-shaft, which passes through the casing A of the window and is by preference provided with a squared end, 9, adapted to receive the turning crank or handle H. Each of the shutters will be provided with the radius-bar G and with a grooved bar, F, near its front edge. If desired, the inner end of the operating-shaft may have a ratchet-wheel, I, keyed thereto, with which wheel the pawl I may be thrown into engagement, if desired, for the purpose of locking the shutter in closed position.

From the foregoing construction it will be seen that when it is desired to open or close the shutter it is only necessary to place the handle or crank H over the squared end 9 of v the operating-shaft, and by turning this crank the movement of the radius-bar will-serve to slide the shutter either forward or back, according as the shutter is to be opened or closed; and it will be seen that this operation of the shutter can be effected from the inside of the building entirely withoutthe necessity of hoisting the window or of encountering any of the well-known difficulties commonly experienced in operating shutters hung upon hinges and requiring the window to be hoisted for the purposeof opening or closing the shutter. It the locking-pawl and ratchet are dispensed with, the shutters can be readily opened or closed from the outside of the building by firemen on ladders in case of an adjoining fire, and this, too, with much more case and safety than it would be possible to operate swinging shutters. Moreover, by my improved arrangement of the operating mechanism this mechanism is hidden from view and entirely protected from all action of the weather; and, moreover, the bars B and B, which serve to sustain the shutters, are placed in such position above and below the window that all danger is overcome of these bars becoming warped or injured by anyfire within the buildmg.

A further advantage incident to the use of the grooved bars F near the front edge of the shutters is that these bars serve to give additional strength to the shutters, and in conjunction with the radius-bars serve to hold the same in closed position. Moreover, by connecting the shutters to the radius bars by means of these grooved bars F the shutters are caused to respond promptly and without lost motion to the movement of-the radius bars.

It will be readily seen that if the bars F be set at such point upon the shutters that the grooves of these bars extend at or below the horizontal plane of the axis of the radius-bars the shutters will be locked in position by the radius-bars against movement from the outside and without the necessity of employing the pawl and ratchet for this purpose, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

If desired, a cornice, W, of any suitable form or construction, may be placed at a slight distance over the hangers which serve to sustain the shutters for the purpose of protect. ing the rollers and the bar whereon they travel from the accumulation of snow and ice.

In the modification illustrated in FigsA and 5 of the drawings is illustrated a form of op erating mechanism particularly adapted for very wide shutters. In this construction the free end of the radius-bar G passes through the slot is of a swinging bar, K, the inner end 'of which swinging bar is pivoted to the window-frame, and the outer end of which bar enters the groove fof the bar F, that is attached to the inside of the shutter near .its outer edge. From this construction it will be seen that when the shutter is to be opened it is only necessary to turn the crank I", thus causing the radius-bar G to move upwardly the swinging bar K, the outer end of this bar traveling within the groovefof the bar F and the free end of the radiusbar in like manner moving in the groove or slot k of the swinging bar K.

It will be readily understood that myinvention is applicable not only to the operation of fire-proof shutters for windows, but as well, also, .to the operation of fire-proof and other doors where it is desired to open and close the door from the inside of the building.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination, with the sliding shutter having the grooved bar F near the front edge thereof and the bars for sustaining the shutter, of operating mechanism comprising a shaft extending through the window or wall of the building and provided with a i'adius bar connected with the grooved bar on the shutter, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the sliding shutter and the bars for sustaining the shutter, of operating mechanism comprising a shaft eX- tending through the window-casing or wall of the building and provided with a radius-bar, and a swinging bar to which the end of said radius-bar is connected loosely, said swinging bar having its free end loosely connected with a the shutter, substantially as described.

GUSTAVE ANDREEN.

Witnesses:

0. AUG. ISAKSON, NV. H. TREEN. 

